Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District

703-324-1460 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway
Suite 905, Fairfax, VA 22035
Willie Woode
Executive Director

Department Resources

Native Seedling Sale

2025 Seedling Sale Has Closed!

 

Thank you for supporting NVSWCD, native plants, and local conservation efforts! 

Sign up for reminder emails and updates about the annual seedling sale here!

 

Southern Charm - 6 seedlings for $20

2x American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) - PURPLE RIBBON

Photos of American beautyberry

  • Up to 6' tall, medium-sized shrub
  • Prefers partial shade
  • Plant in moist sand or clay dominant soils
  • White flowers May to July, vibrant purple berries in late summer and early fall
  • Excellent source of nectar
  • Very attractive to birds and butterflies

 

2x Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana)  - WHITE RIBBON

Photos of sweetbay magnolia

  • 12-20' tall, medium-sized tree
  • Prefers partial shade
  • Plant in moist to wet soils
  • White flowers bloom April to July
  • Flowers primarily attract native birds
  • Good habitat for native wildlife

 

 

2x Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua) - YELLOW RIBBON

Photos of possumhaw holly

  • Up to 30' tall, large shrub
  • Prefers full sun to partial shade
  • Does best in wet sands, but tolerant of other soil types
  • Flowers bloom in early spring 
  • Fruit feeds native birds and fruit eating mammals
  • Attractive to native pollinators

 

 

Winter Wonder Package - 6 Seedlings for $20

2x Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) - ORANGE RIBBON

Photos of smooth sumac

  • Up to 20' tall, large shrub
  • Does well in a range of light, from full light to full shade
  • Prefers dry soil with a sandy to clay texture
  • Flowers bloom April to August
  • Attracts native birds and butterflies
  • Fruit feeds native wildlife in late fall to early winter

 

 

2x Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)- GREEN RIBBON

Photos of black chokeberry

  • Up to 10' tall, medium-sized shrub
  • Prefers full sun, tolerates partial shade
  • Does best in medium moisture but adapts well to all soil types
  • Multi-stemmed shrub that naturally forms thickets
  • Flowers tend to bloom in May
  • Attracts birds and is excellent in rain gardens

 

 

2x Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) - PINK RIBBON

Photos of eastern redbud

  • Up to 30' tall, tall tree
  • Full to partial shade
  • Prefers moist, well-drained soils
  • Clusters of pink flowers bloom in the early spring
  • Distinct, heart-shaped leaves
  • Attracts native birds

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District holds a Native Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale each spring. The theme and exact species vary from year to year. In 2025, the seedlings will be available for pickup at the Sleepy Hollow Bath and Racquet Club in Falls Church on Friday, March 28, from 9am-4pm and Saturday, March 29, from 9am-12pm.

We understand that our seedlings are very popular and sell out quickly. To address some of the ordering challenges from past years, we will have a staggered release of seedlings. Seedling packages will be made available on the sales website at 10am, 2pm, and 6pm on Thursday, February 27, 2025 and will remain available until sold out. If you miss the 10am seedlings, check back later in the day at 2pm or 6pm after the inventory has been replenished. 

We will not have seedlings available for day-of sales. All seedling orders must be placed in advance.

Yes. They will need to have your first and last name and a generally honest disposition. A printout of the order confirmation is helpful but not required. Please contact NVSWCD prior to the seedling sale date should you require accommodations.

Don’t miss the pickup date! If you can’t make it, please send a friend! (See above.) Please contact NVSWCD prior to the seedling sale date should you require accommodations. There will be no seedling order pickups after the sale. If your order is not collected on the pickup date, it will be donated to a reforestation project in Fairfax County. Seedling sale purchases are nonrefundable.

Small boy and girl hold seedling packagesSmaller than you might think! These are first- and second-year bare-root trees and shrubs, which means they are small and come without soil. We add a colored ribbon, put together each package, and wrap the roots in wet newspaper and a plastic bag to keep them moist. In the photo at right, each child is holding one package. Each package of 6 seedlings bundled together is typically 1-3 feet long and 4-6 inches wide.

Check out our page, Previous Years' Seedling Ribbon Colors, for species names and the color of the ribbon (flagging tape) we used to identify it. You can see this year's seedling ribbon colors and tips and tricks for planting your seedling in the Fairfax County Tree Basics Booklet from NVSWCD and the Fairfax County Tree Commission. 

A small bucket or basket. You don’t want the package to tip over and spill water on your backseat. Don’t have a bucket? A sturdy double paper bag or large trash bag will do the job.

If you are picking up a rain barrel or composter kit, make sure you have room in your car. The barrels are large 55-gallon barrels, but they can usually fit in the backseat of even the smallest 4-door sedan (although you may want to bring something to lay down and keep your seats clean). 

You can learn about bare root seedling care (as well as other tree-related advice) in the Fairfax County Tree Basics Booklet from NVSWCD and the Fairfax County Tree Commission. Keep the roots moist and plant your seedlings as soon as possible. We provide a planting guide when you pick up your seedlings. Dig a hole wider than it is deep. We recommend watering throughout the summer for the first year, especially if your tree or shrub is in direct sunlight. Fertilizer is not needed. A light top-dressing of leaf mulch is optional. 

Worried about deer browse? All of the shrubs and trees in this year's packages would be considered to be moderately vulnerable to deer browse. You can learn more about deer tolerant native plants and protecting your seedlings from deer browse in this resource from Plant NOVA Natives.

Hardiness Zone

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows 10 different zones, each of which represents an area of winter hardiness for plants. Fairfax County falls into zones 7a-7b. All of our seedlings are suited for planting in the greater Washington, DC area.

The seedlings typically start out in a dormant state, but when cared for properly, they can grow into lovely landscape specimens faster than you think. Each species has a different growing speed. Since it can be difficult to protect a small first-year seedling from mowers, deer, rabbits and – occasionally – human feet, we include two of every species in the packages.

Rarely – once every several years – we have had a supplier issue (not VDOF) where a large number of seedlings of a particular shrub or tree have not survived. In those cases, we give feedback to the supplier and monitor their seedlings in following years to ensure that it is not a repeat occurrence. Even when that happens, we believe the benefit and low cost we offer by purchasing in bulk outweighs the risk. It’s still a great deal!

Typically we get most of our seedlings from the Virginia Department of Forestry. We like to support our state forestry department and help increase demand for native trees and shrubs. We also purchase seedlings from other neighboring states and private nurseries.

The funds from the sale are first used to cover the cost of the seedlings and associated program costs. NVSWCD uses any leftover funds to support educational programs, including the high school Envirothon competition, biological stream monitoring, storm drain education, Youth Conservation Camp, Science Fair awards, and other outreach activities. Thank you for supporting these efforts through the Seedling Sale!

Have more questions? Feel free to contact us. 

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